Drawer guide



Feb. 3, 1953 F. cooK 2,627,447

DRAWER' GUIDE Filed July 29, 1948 gif-1- y y l 26 22+ K 27 A ,/35 272- mmmmwxwwkm ATTD RN EYE Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT, oFF-ICE Frank Cook, Anaheim, Calif.

Application July 29, 1948, Serial No. 41,269

1 claim. 1

This invention relates to devices for facilitating the sliding movement of drawers in desks, cabinets, and the like, and in particular, a dovetailed or tongue and grooved element with a stationary rail mounted in the desk or cabinet below the drawer, and a coacting rail mounted on the bottom of the drawer, whereby the drawer is held with the sides parallel to the adjoining surfaces of the desk or cabinet.

The purpose of the invention is to provide means for holding a drawer in positive alignment, so that even though it is pulled from one side it will travel in a straight line in both outward and inward movements.

Substantially all drawers in desks, cabinets, and the like, stick or bind at some time, primarily because they are not held in alignment with the mounting elements, and when swelling occurs this is particularly objectionable, and it is often impossible to move the drawer. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a center rail with interengaging elements that hold the drawer in alignment, and when swelling occurs it is equalized at all points, and binding resulting therefrom is reduced to a minimum.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a tongue and groove rail combination that forms a guide for holding a drawer in positive alignment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide for holding drawers of desks, cabinets, and the like, in alignment that may readily be attached to desks and cabinets now in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved drawer guide having V-shaped interengaging elements, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in View the invention consists of the new and useful combination, construction, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the claim appended hereto, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view looking upward toward the under surface of a cabinet, showing the lower rail in an opening therein.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the drawer guide of this invention includes a lower rail I0, an upper rail II, a rail mounting socket Il2, and an attaching bracket I3. The rail ID is preferably formed as illustrated, with upwardly extending inverted V-shaped projections I4 and I5, providing a groove IS 'between the projections. However, it will be understood that the rail may be provided with any suitable number of projections and with corresponding grooves between the projections.

The upper rail II is provided with a tongue II that registers with the groove I6, and also tongues I8 and I9 that overlap the projections I4 and I5, and with the parts arranged in this manner, the upper rail will slide freely on the lower rail.

In mounting the guide in a cabinet or the like, the lower rail I0 is positioned substantially on the center of a drawer opening and loosely supported in the hangers or brackets, and the upper rail is placed substantially in the center of the drawer and attached thereto. The drawer is then moved back and forth so that the lower rail will assume its proper position. The drawer is then removed, and the lower rail permanently fixed in the brackets. One end of the lower rail is permanently attached by the Z-shaped bracket I3, which is held in position by screws 20. A liner ZI may be provided between the bracket I3 and rail as shown in gure 2. The opposite end of the rail I0 is freely positioned in the socket I2 which is attached to the frame 22 of the cabinet by screws 23, and a liner 23a may also be used in this bracket under the end of the rail. After the rail is aligned with the upper rail, the area around the end of the rail is filled with plastic wood or the like, as indicated. by the numeral 24.

The upper rail I I is attached to the bottom 25 of a drawer 26 by nails or screws 21, and this rail is positioned substantially on the center of the drawer. It will be understood that :as many rails or combinations of rails as may be desired may be used, and rails may be positioned at any suitable point or points and attached to the cabinet or drawer in any manner or by any means. The rails may also be made of wood, plastic, or any suitable material.

With the rails formed in this manner and attached to the cabinet and drawer as illustrated, the drawer will be positively maintained in the center of the drawer opening, and even though it is pulled to one side it will travel back and forth in a straight line. With the tongues and grooves of the V-shape, the elements will con- 3 tinue to operate, even though considerable wear develops therein.

It will also be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a cabinet having a drawer-receiving opening in its front Wall the combination which comprises a front rail across the lower side of said opening; a rear wall parallel to, and in horizontal alignment with, said front rail; a bracket centrally positioned on said front rail; a U- shaped socket centrally positioned on said rear rail; a guide bar having its front end received in 15 said bracket; said bar having its rear end loosely received in said socket thus providing clearance spaces between the guide bar and the socket side Walls; a drawer having a centrally-positioned guide rail on its bottom Wall; said guide bar having a groove in its upper face; the lower face of saidguide rail forming a tongue; Where- 4 by when the drawer is inserted in the opening the tongue on said guide rail will slide in the groove of said guide bar and cause the rear end of said guide bar to vertically align with the guide rail; and a plastic filler in the clearance spaces to retain the guide bar in alignment after said iiller has set.

COOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 557,737 Wernicke Apr. 7, 1896 858,420 Schneider July 2, 1907 869,735 Rubin Oct. 29, 1907 1,318,919 Probst Oct. 14, 1,919 1,765,107 Snyder June 17, 1930 1,945,925 stiefel Feb. 6, 1934 2,321,520 Ruckrnan June 8, 1943 

